Harawira bin Laden remarks go global

Hone Harawira. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Hone Harawira's comments hailing Osama bin Laden as a "freedom fighter" have not gone unnoticed overseas, with the story picked up by foreign media.

The former Maori Party MP attracted outrage for comments on Te Karere and Native Affairs, in which he said bin Laden had "pursued independence for his people, his family and his tribe" and he should be mourned, rather than damned.

Harawira has since apologised "for how I expressed myself".

"Using terror for political reasons is never acceptable," Harawira wrote.

The comments, which have been slammed in New Zealand, have now gained traction in media across the world.